Slavery in America

SLAVERY IN AMERICA

THE AUCTION• Once off the boat from Africa, slaves would be thrown into

pens and be sold at an auction• Most families would be split up as many bidders didn’t

want to buy the whole family• Many slaves were “doctored” (greased up and added with

tar) to make them look more desirable. The better you looked, the more money you’d bring as more people would want to buy you.

TYPES OF AUCTIONS• There were two types of auctions-

• Highest bidder• Grab and Go Auctions

• Highest Bidder• Raised on a platform, inspected and sold at the highest

price• Grab and Go

• Buyers would pay a set amount of money for a number of slaves.

• When the pens opened, the buyers would grab the slaves they wanted.

RESPONSEWhat would your response be if you were being sold at an auction? How would that make you feel as a human being?

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD• The terms “underground” and “railroad” are symbolic

terms – There really wasn’t a railroad that went underground.

• The UGRR was an organized system to assist runaway slaves to freedom, particularly to the North.

• ELEMENTS TO THE UGRR• “Depots” or “Stations” – homes/businesses where slaves

would rest/eat• “Stationmaster” – person who ran a depot or station• “Stockholder” – those who contributed money or goods• “Conductor” – Person responsible for moving slaves from

one station to the next

UGRR CONT.• Many individuals participated – many whites, but

predominantly blacks (free or not) ran the UGRR

• Methods of escape:• Slaves would travel through routes that were told by word

of mouth, through stories or through songs.• Most travelled at night on foot and went from station to

station

THOUGHTS

What do you think would happen to those if they were caught helping runaway slaves?

SLAVE LIFEClothing – Slaves were not well-clothed• Children wore long shirts• Many slaves were provided with four shirts all year (2 for

winter and 2 for summer), a pair of pants. Clothing was poorly made

Home Life• Plantation slaves would have small cabins

• Dirt floors, rotting wood, leaky ceilings.• Disease spread easily

SLAVE LIFEDiseases • Hot and humid temps led to a disease filled environment• Lack of medical knowledge led to many deaths• Malaria, pneumonia, dysentery and more

Food• Imbalanced meals • Barely enough to live off of

PICTURE RESPONSEWhy do you think a slave owner would allow a slave family to have a large number of children?

THOUGHTSPut yourself in the shoes of a slave, how would your life be different if you lived during the 1800’s?

PUNISHMENTSlaves had no rights – Owners could do whatever they liked with their slaves (harsh punishments)

They could be punished for many things• Resisting, laziness, excessive talking, stealing, killing and

running away

Punishments included:• Shackling, pain contraptions, chained to the ground,

whipped, walking/marching or being hung

THOUGHTSHow does it make you feel emotionally when you see/read these punishments that were used on slaves? Why?

ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENTAbolish – to get rid ofAn abolitionist is somebody who wants to get rid of slaveryAbolitionists claimed that slavery was:• Anti-Christian – All men are created equal• Goes against the American way of life, which is freedom• It was a waste of physical labor, lives and goodwill• Politically dangerous and a harm to our country’s safety.

Slaves would likely revolt and start a war

THOUGHTSIf you lived during this time period, would you be a part of the abolitionist movement? Why/why not?